LEFT OF THE DIAL/QUEER ISSUE Take the sexual braggadocio of Lil Kim, the rapid-fire flow of Twista, and a fashion sense that combines Nicki Minaj with, depending on the day, Bjork, Ma$e, or, say, the board game Candyland, and you have a close approximation of Cakes da Killa. The Brooklyn-based, baby-faced musician is both a rising star and, unfortunately, something of an oddity, just by virtue of being a gay man and a rapper.

His participation in one of the most homophobic quadrants of pop culture as an out gay guy aside, however, Cakes — born Rashard Bradshaw — doesn't see what's so shocking about some of his lyrics, even when he's rapping matter-of-factly about how he's going to fuck your boyfriend (actual song title: "Fuck Ya Boifriend").

After making a name for himself with two mix tapes in 2011 and 2013 (Easy Bake Oven and The Eulogy, respectively, with the latter receiving a positive mention from Pitchfork), his latest EP, Hunger Pangs, reveals a darker, harder sound. He's still X-rated and super funny, but he also sounds like he's ready to fight.

We caught up over the phone ahead of Cakes' appearance at Public Works Sat/28, as part of the club's "House of Babes" Dyke March after-party.

SF Bay Guardian You grew up in Jersey. How did you start rapping?

Cakes da Killa I always wrote when I was young, whether it was poetry or something else. But I started rapping as a joke in high school, because I saw a bunch of straight guys doing it and getting lots of attention. And me being an attention whore, it was "I can do that." In college I started making videos of me rapping over instrumentals on YouTube, and after people saw those videos I started getting asked to record on projects.

SFBGHow did the straight guys respond to it when you were younger? Did you get any backlash for being an out gay kid, trying to get into something that's so associated with straight, heteronormative culture, or did they just notice how good you were?

CK You know, they noticed. I came out in the third grade, and I've always been the gay boy that was so comfortable in myself I didn't make straight people insecure or uncomfortable. I think I'm still that way.

SFBGThe mixtape before this, when you started getting noticed, was called The Eulogy. Why's that?

CK Honestly, I thought it was going to be my last project. I just didn't see the longevity in rapping — it's weird to think of yourself as a rapper, because I'm so not that. Not even just because I'm gay, but also I don't have a rapper's ego.

SFBG I think maybe the ego comes after you make a ton of money?

CK Yeah, but then my friends would all hate me. I just want to do it until it's not fun anymore. So far, though, it's still fun.

SFBGYou're so young, though. You're, what, 22? Didn't you just graduate from college?

CK I'm 23. And in gay years. We age like dinosaurs, so I'm basically a fossil. I graduated last May, and I moved out of my mother's house. I'm living in Bushwick now; I'm a fully realized member of society.